Tunisia has been provided with equipment valued at $1.4 million through the United States government’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program. This is an affirmation of the long-standing security cooperation between the two countries. This was provided in the middle of December, though the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia had not clarified the nature of the equipment.
The equipment provided through the program encompasses tactical equipment, safety equipment, and surveillance equipment. These are meant to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement agencies and inhibit the activities of terror groups.
The embassy characterized this delivery as “the continuation” in the “enduring US-Tunisia security partnership.” The delivery of the equipment could not have come at a more critical time, as Tunisia is still vulnerable to threats from militant groups in its border regions and from the instability caused by the presence and conflict in Libya and the Sahara region.
Maritime Security and Border Control as Core Counterterrorism Priorities
Tunisia has progressively placed more and more importance on maritime security, which is a major tool of terrorism prevention. In the year 2025, Tunisia received two “34-meter Island-class” patrol boats from the United States of America to aid it in surveillance and protection of the country’s entire coastline of 1,148 kilometers.
The maritime area in Tunisia is under serious threats, which include infiltration by militants, smuggled activities, trafficking of humans, and activities related to firearm trafficking, which can sometimes generate funds and facilitate operational networks for terrorists. These boats are meant to enhance the ability to intercept any fishy vessel and hence restrict any illegitimate maritime movement.
That same year, Tunisia was also noted to be buying an unspecified number of 20-meter Archangel patrol craft from the United States, for a cumulative value of $110 million. The purchase includes the provision of GPS-based navigation systems, communication systems, and training, whose cumulative effect is expected to enhance the country’s readiness.
The above expenditure reflects a paradigm shift in Tunisia’s anti-terror strategies, where the government seeks to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities.
Building Regional Counterterrorism Capacity Through Training
In September 2024, the government of Tunisia and officials from the United States agreed to construct a regional naval training facility located in Bizerte, Tunisia. The purposes of this training facility are to provide superior training to countries around the Mediterranean region on issues related to maritime navigation and security. The training infrastructure will comprise close-combat areas, a firing range, and an obstacle course.
Through enhancing the capabilities and preparedness of the Tunisian military, the center hopes to bolster counter-terrorism capabilities within the region, making it possible to more readily respond to irregular and naval threats.
No Major Attacks Since 2023, but Persistent Threats Remain
Since the May 2023 attack in which five were killed by a gunman at the el Ghriba Synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia, one of the oldest in Africa, there have not been major terrorist attacks in Tunisia. There have been efforts by the Tunisian authorities to prevent attacks from happening, with the aim of foiling the plans of the terrorist groups in the country. These efforts will help to save the lives of the citizens of the country.
Security expert Mohsen Chokri, for one, has commented that most of Tunisia’s counterterror problems are geographic. He illustrates how the overall borders, but particularly those within 16 kilometers of Algeria and Libya, remain the most vulnerable areas.
Chokri pointed to Mount Chaambi National Park in Kasserine, near the Algerian border, and the remote southern desert near Remada as key zones of concern. These regions are hard to secure because of the landscape, low population distribution, and proximity to destabilized neighboring countries.
Geography, Regional Instability, and the Sahel Threat
Chokri also pointed to the fact that Tunisia’s security environment is affected by regional stability problems, which include militantactions in the Sahel and the ongoing turmoil in Libya. This makes Tunisia border the region’s hot spots and thus vulnerable to infiltration due to border spillage effects.
Despite these pressures, Tunisia has been relatively successful at avoiding serious events and keeping public spaces stable, including the capital city of Tunis and other large cities like Sfax, Sousse, and Tozeur.
Chokri described the state of security in Tunisia’s urban areas as “unremarkable,” noting that daily life continues normally with only minor disruptions such as security checkpoints at city entrances. These checkpoints, which have been in place since 2015, require residents to show identification before entering cities, and are part of Tunisia’s broader protective infrastructure against extremist threats.
Chokri also highlighted that coastal tourism areas, major roads and highways, business districts, and government institutions are generally considered safe due to consistent security measures.
State of Emergency and the Sustained Counterterrorism Approach
Tunisia is currently under a state of emergency, which has been in force since 2015 because of several terror attacks that occurred in the country. The state of emergency gives security forces broad powers to operate, including increased surveillance of places of worship, tourist sites, and public spaces.
Even though this has meant that security forces and, at times, extended interrogation sessions at checkpoints have been very visible, this is accepted within the context of potential threats posed by extremist groups.
In the view of Tunisian security experts, the state of emergency and the protective measures it enables are not abnormal given the regional environment. Instead, they represent essential infrastructure to prevent attacks and maintain stability. The country’s ability to balance security with normal daily life has been a key factor in preventing major incidents despite the surrounding instability.
